Review: The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Baseball star Will Vandergriff knows any number of women who would happily pretend to be his girlfriend. In a last-ditch effort to restore his good standing with his team’s higher-ups, he enlists the help of his neurotic, goody-goody neighbor. Schoolteacher Olivia Pratt might be a bit quirky and a bit of a loner, but she’s a lot more inviting than she knows. Will hopes that bringing her to his next game might revamp his reckless reputation and help get his career back on track. The only problem? The plan works a little too well. Not only do the higher-ups love Olivia, but Will plays his best game yet. Suddenly his losing streak is a thing of the past, and Olivia is his new good-luck charm. Will feels anything but lucky.

After years of keeping the world at bay, Olivia Pratt is pulling off the ultimate performance—not only reluctantly posing as Will’s girlfriend but also insisting that she’s oblivious to his major-league appeal. But she can only lie to herself for so long. Being by Will’s side feels good. Really good. Maybe it’s finally time to make a pitch for everything she really wants—and to find out just how exhilarating love can be.

My Review

My favorite thing about this book is how the author brought Olivia's character to life. Her fears, angst, and OCD tendencies are skillfully balanced with her compassion, sense of humor, and independence. She accepts herself as she is, and is unapologetic for her differences, even if they sometimes make her uncomfortable. Will is also a character who accepts himself, gigantic ego and all ;) I was impressed with the subtlety of the two sides of Will, the big shot persona who tells himself he has it all, and the vulnerable side he fights against, the feeling that he is missing something. His posturing for the benefit of Olivia is ironic because he's trying to project his devil-may-care attitude while it's the yearning for her that is the reason he's doing it and reveals his true motivations. I love that she purposely brushes off his attempts at intimidation and doesn't capitulate the way he is used to everyone doing. As they are exposed to each other's softer sides and attraction flares, they both wage an internal battle against the chemistry between them while becoming more reliant on the new dimension of their relationship. The dynamics of their personalities, interactions, and struggles turned what could have been a predicable plot into a journey of growth that kept me glued to the pages! Highly recommend!

(Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

#TackleTBR Daily Update - Day 2

 Join the read-a-thon! Bloggers and non-bloggers welcome! Sign-ups are open through Sept 24th here

Day 2

I read Southern Charmed by Melanie Jacobson and got my review written and posted! I'm so on a roll!!!

Tally:
Total Pages Read: 538
Total Books Finished: 2

Review & Giveaway: Southern Charmed by Melanie Jacobson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Lila Mae Guidry is a Southern girl through and through. As a fourth-generation Latter-day Saint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she’s proud of her heritage as both a Southerner and a Saint—and she doesn’t take kindly to people who disparage either. Ten years ago, Max Archer was just that kind of jerk. As the mission president’s son, Max spent his entire three years mocking the South . . . and teenage Lila. After Max’s family moved away, Lila forgot about her sworn enemy. Almost.

When a new job brings a grown-up Max back to Baton Rouge, Lila is less than thrilled with his reappearance, especially since everyone seems intent on throwing her together with this old adversary. Yet fight as she may, Lila soon realizes resistance is futile—their connection is undeniable. Max embodies everything she wants in a man—except perhaps the most important thing—her life is rooted in the city she loves, but his dreams are bigger than Baton Rouge. With such mismatched visions of the future, Max and Lila are faced with a life-altering decision: jeopardize their aspirations or risk losing love.

My Review

What a fun book with a great sense of setting! Baton Rouge is a huge element in this book and it totally made me want to visit Louisiana and try all the food that the main characters were swooning over ;) Lila Mae is one of those women who is beautiful and independent with an inner strength... and everyone wonders why she isn't married yet. I loved that even though she struggles with difficult feelings when it seems all the young women around her are planning weddings or having babies, she is determined to trust God and be happy with the life she has. The subplot of Lila helping a bright student trapped in poverty reach above her circumstances was inspiring and showed how compassionate and thoughtful Lila is.

Max is a charming leading man, but because the story is told in first person from Lila's perspective and she initially harbors a grudge against him for being a punk as a teen, it was harder for me to move past that, even though Lila seems to pretty quickly. They begin with friendship but since the chemistry is sizzling between them from the start, the romance naturally grows in spite of Lila's misgivings about his temporary stay in Baton Rouge. I love how they relate to each other, it's very real and they don't hide their flaws from each other.  It was refreshing to see them face and work through their differences. The other subplot of Lila's sweet grieving mother touched my heart and even brought a few tears at the end.

(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

See what other reviewers are saying about the book!

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#TackleTBR Daily Update - Day 1

 You don't have to be a blogger to join the read-a-thon! Sign-ups are open through Sept 24th here

Day 1

Success! I read My Hope Next Door by Tammy L. Gray *and* wrote my review and got it posted (just in time for release day!)

Tally:
Pages Read: 318
Books Finished: 1

Review: My Hope Next Door by Tammy L. Gray

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Former bad girl Katie Stone can feel the weight of her reputation settle over her as she drives home for the first time in years. Feeling deeply guilty about her past mistakes, Katie wants to do the right thing for once. But the small town where she grew up is not nearly as forgiving as she’d hoped. Despite it all, she’s determined to help her parents cope with her mother’s recent illness, and Katie finds a surprise ally in the man next door.

Asher Powell never minded being the son of a small-town pastor until a recent breakup leaves him wounded by lifelong members of his church. He remembers his new neighbor as a mean-spirited high school troublemaker, but he senses that her newfound faith and desire for forgiveness are sincere.

Through an unexpected friendship, two people from different worlds find peace, hope, and a second chance they never dreamed was possible.

My Review

This was an intricate look at a new believer's path to overcoming her fears by confronting her past. Her MO to coping with her dysfunctional childhood and choices as a youth has been a mixture of fight or flight, but when devastation results from her actions, it's easier to run to escape the pain. Her journey of redemption is not an easy one and I felt the author portrayed all the aspects of the situation in a realistic way, not shying away from the grittiness but also maintaining an overall feeling of hope. I loved that Asher sees the real Katie, and is able to support her in her trials even as she unknowingly pulls him out of a fog of bitterness and despair. Even though they are both flawed, they are wonderful examples of how God can transform us when we turn to Him and make courageous decisions to bring about change in our lives.

(Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: A Timeless Romance Anthology: Blind Date Collection by Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Victorine E. Lieske, Rachel Branton, Sariah Wilson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

THE PROMISE THAT KATY DID, by Annette Lyon
After the death of Sue Ellen, the closest thing she has to family, Katy knows it’s time to leave the house she’s lived in as a guest and start over in the city. She quickly secures a job, but before leaving, she must honor the unusual promise she made to Sue Ellen on her deathbed: meet with Mr. Balmer. The elderly gentleman arranges for his grandson Barrett to escort her to a town dance. That evening, shy Katy quickly feels at ease with her partner. If her new position weren’t taking her from town morning after next, perhaps something could develop between them. But Barrett may not feel the same about her, and besides, they don't enough time to find out. 

A LADY OF SENSE, by Sarah M. Eden
Eleanor Sherwood has lived her entire life under her parents’ thumb with little hope of escape. When they choose the unbearable Mr. Broadstead to be her future husband, she begs her father for another option. He arranges for her to meet Peter Havensham, who quickly proves himself a good and kindhearted gentleman, completely different from Mr. Broadstead, and utterly undeserving of a forced engagement. Eleanor cannot bring herself to prey upon Peter’s honor, but neither can she imagine a life with Mr. Broadstead. What is a lady to do when faced with such an impossible choice? 

A SECOND CHANCE, by Heather B. Moore
Virginia needs a new start in order to recover from her broken marriage and vicious gossips of her neighborhood in Chicago, so when her best friend Millie invites Virginia to Boston, she goes to live with her friend’s family. But when Millie asked Virginia to participate in a double-date, Virginia knows she’s not ready to start dating again. Reluctantly she agrees, only to find out that Max might just be the man who can repair the cracks in her heart.

BRAELYNN’S BLIND DATE, by Victorine E. Lieske
When Braelynn agrees to go on a blind date, she thinks she’s hit the jackpot. Tyler is gorgeous and the perfect gentleman. Of course she should have known it was too good to be true. It turns out that Tyler really wasn’t Tyler, but a random stranger who went along with Braelynn’s mistaken assumption. So, she chalks it up to a dumb mistake until she gets to work Monday morning and discovers that her gorgeous blind date is now her new boss. 

BIANCA’S HOPE, by Rachel Branton
A blind-date-gone-wrong is not the way Bianca would have chosen to celebrate the news that she might be losing her business, but saying no to the sister who took care of her after their mother’s death proves impossible. So for one date, one torturous evening, she’ll endure the company of an infuriating, heartless man she has no intention of ever seeing again. She doesn’t expect her heart to have other plans. Bianca soon learns that sometimes the unexpected is not only what you need, it’s exactly what you’ve been waiting for all along. 

BLIND SPOT, by Sariah Wilson
Ria has prepared most of her life to meet her prince, trouble is, her mother keeps yanking her back to reality. So when Ria reads about a country teeming with princes, she drops everything and applies to grad school. But every blind date goes wrong, and while Ria commiserates with her roommate Tessa and Tessa’s totally un-prince-like brother Paolo, Ria discovers that all the things she thought she wanted in a man are far from what she really needs.

My Review

I've never been on a blind date, so it was fun to live vicariously through these characters who bravely take a chance on a stranger. I especially enjoyed all three historical stories since "blind date" seems like more of a modern term, but the concept really isn't all that new. Each novella allowed the reader to quickly get to know the main characters and added a unique twist to the blind date plot. A couple of the contemporary stories were a little over the top, but I look forward to reading more by Victorine E. Lieske and it turns out I have one of her books waiting for me on my Kindle! Seriously, too many books, too little time. I think that's why I love these novella collections so much, they are the perfect quick fix during brief moments of downtime during a busy day or a great way to unwind after the kids are in bed. The Blind Date Collection is a great compilation of sweet romantic stories full of emotion and hope.

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon 2016! #TackleTBR

I'm super excited to participate in another year of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon! I'll be reading like crazy so the number of reviews should increase the rest of this month ;)

The books I'll be picking from are on my "reading-next" shelf on Goodreads, and I'm hoping to make some real damage to my ever-growing TBR list!

You don't have to be a blogger to participate! There will be challenges and giveaways just for participants so check out the details at Tressa's sign-up post and feel free to join us!

Review: Rachel Laine by Jennifer Peel

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Rachel Whitney’s life changed forever when Drew, the son of her twin sister, Sydney, was placed in her arms—and there he stayed. At twenty-two, she had no idea what she was doing, but in that moment, she knew that raising Drew was what she was meant to do with her life.
​
Fiercely independent, Rachel makes her own way managing her family's insurance agency. Decidedly against introducing any men into her life, or Drew’s, she protects her heart against all romantic entanglements. But what she didn’t count on was a letter from her sister that leads a famous secret to her door eight years after her sister’s death. A secret with the same eyes as her son’s.
​
Desperate not to get the courts involved, Rachel allows Drew’s previously unknown father, Andrew Turner, into their lives, and to her surprise, little by little into her heart. But for Rachel, taking that step could open her family to a firestorm of media attention that not even Merryton can protect them from. Is love worth the risk? Or will Andrew's fame and ambition ruin their chances?

My Review

This story had all the things I love about a Jennifer Peel novel- great characters, plenty of emotion and angst, and a strong sense of community and friendship. The story starts with Andrew's arrival into Rachel and Drew's life, and while the situation of a dad suddenly invading a single mom's realm is one I've read in several books, the twist of Rachel being the twin sister and aunt-turned-mom increased the tension and complications. The author really delves into the myriad of emotions that Rachel experiences, and I think the first person POV helps the reader connect to what she's feeling. I had a hard time enjoying Andrew's character; I think I connected a little too well with Rachel's initial feelings of mistrust and anger, and when she warmed up to him, I was still giving him a hard time in my mind, especially with the decisions he was making in regards to their converging lives. He's charming and funny, and their romantic moments are swoony, but it's the way that Rachel continues to keep him on his toes that makes their relationship lively. She is 100% the advocate for Drew's happiness and well-being, and doesn't hesitate to remind Andrew of it. The pacing slowed a little for me partway through when Rachel's' thoughts got a little repetitive, but I didn't have to wait too long for another twist to make the plot surge forward. I'd recommend this book to all fans of clean contemporary romance!

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Book Blitz: Hope Series by E.C. Jackson

After 2 wonderful book tours, we are excited to have both of the books in the Hope Series featured together for a blitz! Come help get these wonderful books seen!

Twenty-one-year-old Neka is a bit of an introvert, she also happens to be stunningly beautiful.

When she discovers her friend James is about to be dumped, she sees the perfect opportunity to escape from her quiet life. Can she summon the courage to leave it all behind?

James Copley comes from a ruthless family. It’s rubbed off. Years ago, he disengaged from his brother’s smear campaign, but now his father has offered him an ultimatum, “Get married or lose your seat at the table.” Plotting to stamp his design on the family business, he proposes to a woman, even though he doesn’t love her. But his carefully laid plans start to unravel when she leaves him on the day she’s due to meet his family. Could years of planning his comeback vanish with her departure?

A possible solution comes in an unexpected form: Neka. She’s not only a friend, but the daughter of his benefactor. And she’s right there, offering to support him. But will her support stretch to marriage? He attempts to win her over to his plan but collides with her powerful father who wants to leverage the situation for his own gain.

In their fight for survival and love, they are forced to face some uncomfortable truths.

Can they overcome thwarted dreams and missed chances to find true love, or does forcing destiny’s hand only lead to misery?

---//---

It was a match made in heaven. Or so everyone thought. Sadie Mae Cummings is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, when she is assigned to tutor Lincoln, the new college football running back. This sophomore phenomenon has all the girls on campus knocking on his door. But Sadie isn't interested in his advances.

Lincoln’s overblown ego doesn't take well to being shunned, and he resolves to make Sadie his own. He pursues her relentlessly, until finally Kyle finds himself shut out of Sadie's life, with their shared future crumbling around him.

After two years, Sadie’s relationship with Lincoln ends, and she is left having to put the pieces of her life back together. She desires nothing more than to recapture her relationship with Kyle. He has stayed true to the dreams they had planned together, living the vision even without Sadie by his side.

When she moves back to her hometown, she labors to rekindle their love. But things have changed, and Kyle has moved on. Sadie quickly discovers how hard it is to rebuild burned bridges.

Follow Sadie’s story as she fights for a chance to restore broken dreams. Will love endure?

This inspirational romance by E. C. Jackson is book two of the Hope series and is a standalone book..

~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU ~ Indigo ~

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a half years, she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals. Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years led naturally to her current endeavor, writing inspirational romance novels. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~
~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~

 Snippet from the book

Sadie bit into a cupcake, then dipped her spoon into a bowl of chocolate ripple ice cream. She seldom ate dessert—and usually pigged out when she did—which is why she normally didn’t. But it was her birthday, and she celebrated it alone. Just like last year. But that was okay; she was going home. And soon. But not soon enough. She was anxious to get on with her life.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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Book Blast Giveaway: Slave Queen by H.B. Moore

   

Slave Queen by H. B. Moore

Special Agent Omar Zagouri’s latest case is his most dangerous—and his most personal yet. The discovery of secret sixteenth-century letters unveils a plot between the sultan Suleyman and his chief wife, Roxelane, to change the course of the Ottoman Empire. A descendent of Roxelane, Zagouri learns he has an enemy whose revenge has been centuries in the making. Targeted by an antiquities collector who’s also descended from a chief rival for the ancient throne, Zagouri soon uncovers a modern-day conspiracy that threatens the lives of his family and the security of a nation. To expose the plot, Zagouri must team up with Naim, the son of his nemesis, who heads an international black-market operation that may have ties to the killings. From ancient Constantinople to the present-day Middle East, Zagouri is on a collision course with history. Time is running out to solve a royal mystery and stop a ruthless killer—one who has Zagouri’s name on his hit list.


Excerpt

Chapter One Al Karak, Jordan Rashed Sayid picked up his cell phone and selected his most trustworthy contact. The phone call would take only moments, but the result would teach the entire Sayid tribe what honor meant. He shut his third-floor office window, blocking out the rising heat of the Jordanian desert’s summer morning. He and his only brother owned the bank in the city of Al Karak, having started the bank three decades before, and now they were among the wealthiest in town. “Yes?” Yamil answered. “We have proof,” Rashed said into the phone. “Four male witnesses?” Yamil asked. Rashed blew out a breath. Yamil was a stickler for rules. An execution couldn’t be ordered unless there were four respected male witnesses to the crime. There were actually no witnesses, but Rashed knew his daughter was guilty. He had plenty of video footage of her leaving her university apartment more than once after midnight, and he also had other, less legal evidence. There was only one reason for his daughter’s midnight forays. Worst case scenario, Aamira was no longer a virgin. Next case scenario, she’d been tainted in some way by having a relationship with a man other than her fiancé. Rashed was still working on trying to find out whom she was meeting. But it was time to put the execution order into motion.

   

Praise for Slave Queen

"Moore does an excellent job of setting the scene of international intrigue, and although this novel is part of a series, it also works well as a stand-alone. The story jumps back and forth between the present and the past as Moore tells the story of Roxelane's capture by the Turkish army and her subsequent love affair with Suleiman. Roxelane is an excellent, strong female character, and Moore brings some obscure players from the Ottoman Empire vividly to life. She even quotes from Suleiman's actual poetry . . . to conjure a complex portrait of this larger-than-life figure. A satisfying historical thriller." --Kirkus Reviews

"From sultans and hierarchies that separate men and women from Poland to Constantinople and beyond to new lives in great cities where mosques and sultans rule, these vivid past and present scenarios contribute to a story fueled by cultural revelations and the long-standing threat a series of letters reveals. The result is a fast-paced, complex, and absorbing adventure saga that crosses time and place to give Omar, Mia (and readers) a run for their money. Warning: once begun, it's nearly impossible to put down the full-flavored, multi-faceted Slave Queen, which reveals many insights about the Ottoman Empire, Süleyman the Magnificent, and the slave girl foreigner who turned out to be his favorite wife." --D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

  Author H. B. Moore

H. B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen historical novels and thrillers, written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook

   

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 9/25/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

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